The figure flickering on the screen sent a jolt of panic through York. As a clone of the world's greatest genius, her mind raced to process the situation. She realized in an instant that she had been outmaneuvered.
"Damn it!" York hissed, her voice trembling with rage. "You all knew I betrayed you from the start. So, did my main body just fake his death to trick me?"
To her shock, Vegapunk's voice echoed from the electronic speakers, steady and detached. "No... you're wrong, York. I am indeed dead."
"What!?" York gasped.
"What you're seeing now is my final fail-safe," Vegapunk explained. "It is a pre-recorded broadcast that activates the moment my life functions terminate. This message is being pushed through every available frequency—not just Den Den Mushi, but even the televisions and radios used by the Beasts Pirates."
York's face drained of color as the magnitude of her failure set in.
On the vast and magnificent ocean, the lead warship of the Marine fleet cut through the waves. Inside a private cabin, Rob Lucci of CP0 stood stiffly beside Saint Jaygarcia Saturn of the Gorosei.
Since joining CP0, Lucci had been granted a glimpse into the "national treasure" controlled by the Celestial Dragons. That experience had triggered the awakening of his Devil Fruit and instilled in him a bone-deep terror of the World Government's true power. To Lucci, the Gorosei were every bit as frightening as the Four Emperors.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor. Lucci's brow furrowed, and Saint Saturn looked toward the door with visible irritation.
"Lord Gorosei! Something... something has happened!"
Lucci recognized the frantic voice of his partner, Kaku.
"Come in," Saturn commanded coldly.
Kaku burst into the room, looking completely disheveled. He was clutching a Den Den Mushi and a portable television, both of which were displaying the same image.
"Hello... hello... can you hear me, world?" Vegapunk's image spoke from the screens. "I am Vegapunk, the humble genius scientist. If you are hearing this, it means my life has come to an end. I have left this message because I wish to reveal the [Truth] of this world to everyone!"
The moment the word "truth" was uttered, the air in the cabin felt like it turned to ice. A murderous intent so thick it was almost physical erupted from Saint Saturn.
"What is Borsalino doing?" Saturn hissed. "How could he let this happen?"
Cold sweat poured down the faces of Lucci and Kaku. Lucci opened his mouth to offer an explanation, but he was cut short as the ship lurched violently. The entire warship began to tilt dangerously as if the sea itself were turning upside down.
In the Grand Line, at the hidden Revolutionary Army headquarters in Baltigo, the atmosphere was equally frantic.
Emporio Ivankov burst into the command center, waving her arms. She immediately confronted Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionaries. "Dragon, what is the meaning of this? Why did you order Sabo to take Bonney to Mary Geoise? I want to save Kuma as much as anyone, but you know how suicidal that place is!"
Koala stepped in, trying to calm the flamboyant commander. "Lord Ivan, please, calm down. The leader acted on vital intelligence. Sabo and Yamato are with Bonney-chan because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Ivankov blinked in surprise as Dragon spoke up. "We received word from Red Port that twenty-five warships from the Marine G1 Branch have been deployed under the command of Admiral Kizaru."
Ivankov's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "A Buster Call!?"
"That's right," Dragon said, his eyes narrowed. "But even more shocking is the report that Saint Saturn, one of the Five Elders, has personally descended to the lower world."
Ivankov shivered at the name, instinctively recoiling before gritting her teeth. "How is that possible? Something is happening out there that is making even those monsters panic." She turned sharply back to Dragon. "Do you know what it is?"
Dragon shook his head, his expression grim. "I'm not certain, but I can guess. There is only one man capable of making the World Government lose its composure to this degree."
"Kaido of the Beasts!" Ivankov shouted without a second thought.
Dragon nodded, lost in thought. Just then, the Den Den Mushi on a nearby table began to ring. Koala, thinking it was an update from Sabo, quickly answered it. In an instant, the room fell silent as Vegapunk's voice filled the air, and Dragon finally understood why the world was in an uproar.
In the Kingdom of Alabasta, King Cobra and Princess Vivi were still reeling from their discussion about the impending war between the Beasts Pirates and the Government. They hadn't even had a moment to rest before their screens were hijacked by the image of the world's greatest scientist.
"Truth..." Vivi whispered, her eyes glued to the screen.
"That's right," Vegapunk's voice rang out as if answering her. "I have committed two great sins in my life, and I knew that death or arrest was inevitable. That is why I prepared this video to play the moment my heart stopped beating."
He looked directly into the camera. "I want to make one thing clear: no matter who has judged me today, I do not wish to label them as 'evil.' Even I struggle to define the line between good and evil."
"What I am about to tell you will be difficult to believe. Some may even find it laughable. But I believe every soul on this planet has the right to know. I will not waste time. Here is the conclusion:"
Vegapunk paused, his expression grave. "Our world is going to sink into the ocean!"
At Marineford, the Marine Headquarters was instantly thrown into absolute chaos.
"Is this a joke?" "What is this old man rambling about?" "The world sinking? That's impossible!"
Amidst the shouting and confusion, Fleet Admiral Akainu sat in his chair, stony-faced and silent. He made no move to cut the broadcast, allowing his subordinates to watch.
"Between 900 and 800 years ago," Vegapunk continued, "there is a 100-year gap in history that has been completely erased. Any research into this [Void Century] was systematically destroyed. The only way to glimpse that lost era is through the ancient stones called Poneglyphs."
"Initially, I only had fragments of the story. I could not have told you the true epic of our past. But fortunately, two years ago, Kaido revealed the contents of the four Road Poneglyphs that point the way to Laugh Tale. Because of that, I was finally able to see the past and learn the story of the era that came before our own..."
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